Docherty to assist as Aberdeen promise 'imminent' boss announcement
· Yahoo Sports
Former assistant manager Tony Docherty has rejoined Aberdeen to strengthen Peter Leven's interim management team despite sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel promising an announcement about a permanent appointment "imminently".
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Docherty's surprise return comes a week after it was revealed that former Rosenborg, Brann and Saint-Etienne head coach Eirik Horneland had emerged as a leading candidate to succeed the sacked Jimmy Thelin during negotiations.
Amid a further delay to making a full-time appointment, Aberdeen have yet to respond to speculation that the 50-year-old Norwegian is not in a position to take up the appointment until the summer.
Pfannenstiel has been leading the search for a replacement since Thelin was sacked on 4 January and did reveal that Docherty was coming in to assist Leven "during this interim period".
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The 55-year-old first joined the Scottish Premiership club in 2013 as part of Derek McInnes' management team and went on to spend eight years at Pittodrie.
He was also McInnes' number two with Kilmarnock before spells as manager with Dundee and Ross County but was sacked by the latter in December with his side bottom of the Championship.
"Tony has a wealth of experience and knows the Club inside out," Pfannenstiel told his club website.
"He has excellent knowledge of the Scottish Premiership, both as a coach and a manager, and that will be invaluable for us in the short term.
"Our managerial search is now reaching its conclusion and we hope to be in a position to announce our new head coach imminently."
Leven, who is in his third spell as caretaker and whose side sit seventh in Scotland's top flight, welcomed Docherty's appointment.
"It's great to have someone of Tony's experience back in the Aberdeen dugout for the upcoming games," Leven added.
"He was very enthusiastic about coming in when I spoke with him and his presence and knowledge at both training and matches will be a big boost to me and the squad."
Horneland left Saint-Etienne at the start of February with his side sitting fourth in France's second tier.
Should Aberdeen decide to wait until the summer for the Norwegian to take charge, it will mirror the six-month delay in Thelin arriving at Pittodrie from Elfsborg in summer 2024.